Machine for feeding strips and the like



July 9, 1929. R. R. SHAY J 1.720530 MACHINE FOR FEEDING STRIPS AND THELIKE Filed Aug. 24, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 III FIRIII II x mimmnmmnmmmu vA N July 9, 1929. R. R. SHAY MACHINE FOR FEEDING STRIPS AND THE LIKEFiled Aug.-24, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet July 9, 1929. R. R. SHAY 1,720,530

MACHINE FOR FEEDING STRIPS AND THE LIKE Eiled Aug. 24, 1927 5sheetssheet 3 Patented July 9, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RALPH R. SHAY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO PAPER UTILITIESGORPORA- TION, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

MACHINE FOR FEEDING STRIPS AND THE LIKE.

Application filed August- 24, 1927. Serial No. 215,122.

This invention has to do with certain improvements in machines forfeeding such objects as strips of paper, labels, gummed cloth, stamps,etc. More particularly, the invention has reference to improvements inmachines for feeding strips of gummed paper such as are used for sealingpackages and for similar purposes. These machines are ordinarily iilacedon counters or tables where they are convenient of access for operation.The use fulness of the invention is not limited to the same, however.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide the machine with oneor more feet or pedestals of such a nature as to take hold of thesurface upon which the machine is placed and firmly attach themselvesthereto so as to hold the machine securely in the selected location. Atthe same time, these feet are of such construction that they will not inany manner injure or mar the surface of the table or counter.

hilore mrticrrlarly, it is an object of the invention in this connectionto make use of a series of vacuum cups for holding the macl'iine inplace, said cupsbeing a definite part of the machine and serving notonly the feet or legs thereof, but also serving the useful purposealready referred to.

Another feature of the invention relates to the provision of a greatlyimproved arrangement of moistening device for moistening the gummedsurface as the object is delivered from the machine. This moisteningdevice is constructed and arranged in, the form of a self-contained unitwhich can be readily set into place or removed from the front portion ofthe machine proper, and when so set in place it is so arranged that themoisture will be delivered against the bottom surface of the object inthe proper quantities and in the exact position desired. This moisteningdevice constitutes the subject matter of another companion applicationfor Letters Patent of the United States, Serial No. 265,706, filed March29, 1928; but it bears a peculiar relationship to the other mechanismswhich are disclosed in the present application.

Another feature of the invention relates to the provision of an improvedform of feeding device for feeding forward the tape or other object.This feeding device is so arranged as to very effectively grip the stripor tape or other object. but is of an extremely simple design.

A further feature of the invention relates to the provision of animproved construction of guide for the paper strip or other object. Thisguide is so arranged that as the tape enters the guide it is centeredwith respect to the guide even though the. tape itself may not be offull width. By this means there is assurance that the tape will beproperly centered and advanced without complications or tendency to jamin the machine notwithstanding the fact that the, tape is of less thanthe normal intended width.

By reason of the foregoing feature it is possible to use tapes ofvarying widths less than the full capacity of the machine, so that it ispossible to use a standard size and construction of machine for fillingthe needs of many different classes of users.

A further feature of the invention relates to the provision of a paperstrip or tape guide in the form of a self-contained unit which can bevery easily set into place in the machine proper or removed therefromeither for replacement or repair. This self-contained unit also includesthe tape feeding jaws which travel upon the guide. The arrangement issuch that when this unit, including the tape feeding jaws, is set intoplace in the machine, the necessary operative connection is establishedbetween the operating lever and similar parts and the tape feeding jaws,and without the necesslty of special mechanical adjustments orconnections, and also without the need of using special tools. By reasonof this arrangement it is possible for a user of the machine to removethe tape guide and feeding jaw unit and return the same to the factoryfor adjustments, and it is also possible for the user to readily replacethe adjusted parts or to substitute a new unit.

Another feature of the invention relates to the provision of an improvedform of knife and cutting mechanism for severing the tape automaticallyafter it has been fed. This construction is such that the feed of thetape takes place on the forward stroke of the operating handle, thecutting blade being dropped out of the way at that time; and it alsosuch that on the return stroke the cutting blade is forcibly operated tosever the tape.

Another feature of the invention relates to the provision of a verysimple form and arrangement of operating mechanism for oper-.ofthepresent invention, being taken substantially on the line 11 ofFig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 2 shows a plan View corresponding to Fig. 1; I

Fig. -3 shows a broken horizontal section substantially on the line 33of Fig. 1, looking in the direction. of the arrows ig. et shows-avertical cross section on the line 4-4; of Fig. 1,."looking in thedirection ofithe, arrows, and illustrating particularly the knife. andoperating mechanisms;

5 shows across section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1, looking in thedirection of the arrows Fig. 6 shows a fragmentary, horizontal sectionon the line 66 of Fig. 5 looking in the direction of the arrows, but onan enlarged scale; and.

. Fig.7. is a detail face view of the tape guide .unit removedfrom theframe of the machine.

portion. 10 of which is preferably of somewhat higher elevation than therear portion 11, since the-tendency is for the roll of tape torideupover-the front portion 10 when the tape is being fed.

In conjunction with this base member there is a pair of side Walls 12'and 13-. Either or both-of these may be made as separate unitsindependently attached-to the base member 7, or-oneof said side platesmay be formed integrally with the base member. In the particularconstruction illustrated, the side plates 12. and 13'are made of sheetmetal having their lower' edges flanged inwardly, as shown at.14,so asto rest directly upon the top sur- ;face of the base member to whichthey are then connected by means of screws 15, or in any otherconvenient manner.

The upper portions of. the side plates are also flanged. inwardly,asshown at 16 in Fig.

1 5 in particular, so as to give the top portion of the machine afinished appearance and also to provide suitable means to which theguide unit may be connected.

The upper portions of the side walls 12 and 13 are curved on asubstantially circular arc, asshown at 17 in Fig. l, which are extendsfrom the point 18 substantially to the point 19. At the point 19 the topedges of the side walls are curved and carried straight forward for arelatively short distance, at which positionthe tape is moistened anddelivered.

The rear portion of the housing may be closed by means of a verticalslide plate 20, the upper end of which has a forwardly projecting finger21 which serves both as a convenient means for raising the slide platewhen a new roll of tape is to be inserted, and also serves to more orless enclose the extreme rear portion of the top opening between theside plates. The vertical slide member sets down immediately in front ofthe flanges 22 on the rear ends of the side plates 12 and 1?; and lugs23 on the base member 7 are so positioned as to hold the lower end ofthe slide 20 against being moved forwardly when the slide is set intoplace.

The guide unit. is set into place adjacent to the upper edges of theside plates and serves to more or less completely enclose the upperportion of the opening between them. This unit is made of sheet metal.and comprises upper and lower or front and rear cross pieces 25 and 26,together with the intervening, connecting, curved, folded sections 27and 28. These sections 2? and 28 are folded back upon themselves, asclearly shown in Fig. 5 in particular, to thereby establish thelongitudinal guide slots which face each other and accommodate the edgeportions of the tape which is being fed.

Intermediate between the guide port ions 2? and 28 there is thelongitudinal slot 29, the

ends of which are defined by the cross pieces 25 and 26 already referredto.

The upper and lower cross pieces 25 and 20 are provided with the sidecars 30, which rest upon the upper flanged edges of the side plates 12and 13, to which they may be connected in any convenient manner, as byscrews 31. The cars at the front or lower end of the guide member 21 donot appear in Fig. 2, for the reason that they are covered over andhidden by the bracket presently to be explained.

There is a tape gripping and feeding earriage 32 which is slidablymounted upon the guide 2a. This carriage includes a. plate 33 whichextends over and rests upon the sections 27 and 28; and the ends of theplate 323 are folded backnnder, as shown at 34 and 35 in Fig. 5, so asto more or less completely embrace the members 27 and 28 of the guidesection. The extreme inner ends of the re-entrant portions 34: and 35are provided with downwardly depending cars 36, as shown in Fig. 5; anda cross pin 37 is extended through said ears and serves as a pivot orsupport for ltltl lllfi the jaw member 38 (best shown in Fig. 1).

and id, and a corresponding pair of downwardly depei'iding ears 4-1. and42. .letween the forwardly reaching; arms 39 and there is placed a smallrubber block 4L3 which has the ear l l which extends upwardly above thepositions Off the arms, so that said car 4141: can directly contact thelower surface of the tape and bite against the same. The two downwardlydepending arn'is 4L1 and 42 are protected by a sleeve of rnbl ror thelike 'dhe member 33 is provided with a semiperforation or a depressionall}, which is ad apted to travel in the slot 29 oi" the guide section,and lOllCl'lQS down into position to serve as an abuti'i'ient againstwhich the top surtace oil. the tape will be pressed by the rubber ear tl.

The arrangement is such that upon tm'cingr the jaw member 38 forward bypressing against the downwirdly depending arm thereof, the ear 4l-i-lwill be raised against the bottom surface of the tape, and the tape willthus be clamped between said ear t l and the semiperforation 4th. The lorward mm ement of the member 38 will thus ellectively feed the tape;and the bite of the Jar-ts against the tape will be increased in directproportion to the resistance which the tape iiitli'ers against beingadvanced.

llfithin the casing there is pivotally mounted an o ierating arm 417.This arm is provided at its upper end with a to'rv-rard extension 4-8.The lower end oi? the arm is pivoted at the point 49 to a lug 50 whichextends upward from the base member 7 at one side ol the pocket 9 wl chreceives the roll oi tape.

A slot- 51v is termed in the side wall 12 on a circular are drawn aboutthe pivotal point a l). A handle pin. 52 is placed on the front endoft-he extension 48 and reaches through said slot and is provided. witha handle but ton 53 on its outside end. By this means the arm t? can bedrawn forward with an easy motion communicated by the right hand of theuser when facing; the machine in the nut u ral manner.

On its upper end the arm 47 also carries a lug 54. which extendssidewise a sui'iicient dista/nee to embrace the vertical arm oi the jawmember 38. For this purpose said lug 5a is provided with a centralopening 55 (see Fig. (l in particular) which is preteralfily of ain 'ilesize and eloi'igated in a :l'ront and rearwardly direction. 'llhiselongation allows tor a. certain amount oi lost motio'm to be presentlyexplainrvl. At the same time, by making the oprningr 55'} amply largelaterally, it is possible to set the guide unit 1? down into place onthe structure oi the machine and cause the vertical arms of the jawmember 38 to properly seat through the opening); 55 without thenecessity of special or dillicult adjustments by the worker. It is thuspossible for the user to either lift the unit 17, together with the jawmember, upwardly away from the operating lever and other parts withoutthe need of disconnecting any other elements, and in like manner it ispossible for the user to set said member back into place withoutdiliiculty. This member 17, together with the feeding jaws andassociated parts may there-- fore be r vulily treated and used as aunit.

A spring 56 tends to draw the lever 47 baclnvardly to the rear limit ofmovement, and thus also to restore the jaw member already referred to.

The extreme front end oil? the guide member 17 is deflected into ahorizontal direction at lhe point 26, is already explained. Thus the d*ancingr tape is delivered in a horizontal path. immediately above thecross piece 26 alri-iady referred to there is placed a bracket member ithe same extending sidewise far enough to over 'e the front portion ofthe guide member This bracket member 57 carri s a ationary blade 58,which is secured to its Ill'lJlll? lace, the lower edge of said bladebeing sharpened. Another swinging blade 59 is pivoted at the point (it)to one end of the stationary blad i and to the bracket 57. This swingingjaw 59 is preferably of son'iewl'iat triai'rrnilar form shown in F 4, soas to give it additional weight and thus improve its tendi-mcy to fallinto the open position. The upper edge of the j aw 59 is sharpened andco-operates with the fixed jaw 58.

'lhere a stilt wire rod 61 in the body of the machi no. one end 62 otthe same being hooked into an opening ()3 oi the base member 7, whichthus acts as a pivot point. The other end ()i said rod (ll is extendedsomewhat loosely through an. opening G-l in the swing;- ing portion ot'the jaw 59, so that by raising the flilll'l ill on the pivot point 62the jaw 59 is raised and the tape is severed.

There a chain which has one end connected to the lever extension 48. Theother end oi said chain 65 is connected to a loop 66 formed in the wirerod 61. The chain is made of proper length to pick up the lever (31 andraise the same so as to throw the jaw 59 into the cutting position, justbefore the lever 4:7 and connected parts reach the rear limit of theirreturn movement. In this way the tape is severed as the last operationon the return stroke.

The opeuin 55 already referred to is of sufficient length to allow thelever 4-7 to be drawn tl orward such a distance at the begini'iing oi?the next operating; stroke as to completely lower the cutting blade 59before the jaw member 38 is properly engaged to comu'ience the feed ofthe paper strip. This lost motion thereforea makes it possible to dropthe cuttin blade 59 out of the way before the advanceimmt oi the tapeactually commeiiices. so that there will be no interference with the thenext feeding operation.

rives.

On the back or returning stroke of the lever I 47 thej aw member 38 isthrown backwardly with a quick jerky movement. This might tend to causesaid jaw member to occupy the extreme rearward position with respect tothe slot 55, so that the jaw member 38 would be prematurely advanced atthe beginning of In order to eliminate such possibility, I have providedalight spring 67 which is fastened to a suitable, stationary part andengages the downwardly depending arm of the jaw member so as to hold thejaw member 38 at the front end of the slot 55 when the parts have cometo rest. There is another spring 67, lighter than the spring 67, andconnected to the finger 54. The free end of the spring 6'" tends to pushthe carriage l8 backwardly until limited byengagement of the finger 3Gwith the back edge of the slot 55. This will ensure that the lever 47moves forward the amount of lost motion of the slot 55 before actualforward movement of the carriage 18 begins.

In order to assist in centering the tape or stripand delivering the samecentrally along the guide member 17, I have provided a downwardlydepending car 68 at the rear end of said guide member. This car 68 isshown in detail in Fig. 6, from which it will be seen that it is curvedon a smooth curve facing towards the rear of the machine so that as thetape rises it will tend to draw to the center of this curvature. Then asthe tape passes up over the top edge ofthe ear and starts advancingforwardly along the guide member under the impulse of the jaw member 38it will be properly centered and will feed to best advantage. It hasbeen found that this arrangement will ensure a correct centering andfeed of the tape even in those cases in which the tape itself is verymuch narrower than the full capacity of the machine.

In order to create an additional slight resistance to the movement ofthe tape up and over the rear end of the guide 17 so as to furtherimprove the biting action of the jaw member 38, I have provided a smallspring 69 which is located in the slot 29 of the guide member 17 andimmediately in advance of the position at which the tape rides into theguide member. This spring member normally stands at such a raisedposition, as shown in Fig. 1 that it will press against the centralportion of the tape as the latter passes into the guide.

I have herein illustrated a suitable form of guide member 70 forreceiving the tape after it passes the position of the cutting blades,and have also herein illustrated a suitable moistening device 71 formoistening the gummed surface of the tape as it is served; but inasmuchas these features constitute the subject matter of another applicationfor Letters Patent of the United States, I do not herein describe thesame in greater detail.

In order to support the base member 7 in a firm and even manner, and inorder to prevent marring the surfaces upon which the machine may beplaced, I have provided the feet 72, such as shown in the differentfigures. These are formed of rubber dished out, as shown in Fig. 1, soas to establish in effect downwardly-facing vacuum cups which will takehold of the smooth surface upon which the machine is placed and adherethereto in a very firm manner. These vacuum cups are readily connectedto the base member 17 by screws or rivets 73, as shown in Fig. 1.

\Vhile I have herein referred to the feeding of tape, it will beunderstood that machines embodying the features of my invention may alsobe used for feeding other objects such as stamps, labels, etc.Therefore, when I speak of tape it will he understood that I use thisword as illustrative only.

While I have herein shown and described only a single embodiment of thefeatures of my present invention, still I do not intend to limit myselfthereto except as I may do so in the claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine of the class described the combination of a base member.a pair of parallel vertical side plates projecting upwardly from thebase member, the upper por tions of said side plates curving downward lyfrom the upper rear corners towards the front lower corners of the sideplates on a substantially circular are, a tape guide member comprising asheet of metal having its side edge portions folded over and intosubstantial parallelism with the body portions immediately beneath saidfolded portions but spaced therefrom to establish a pair of thin tapeedge guide grooves, the central portion of the guide member intermediatebetween said folded over portions being longitudinally slotted, the endportions of said slot terminating short of the ends of the guide me1nherto establish cross pieces having projecting ears which are adapted tooverlie and be secured to the upper edges of the side plates, said guidemember being curved to conform to the curvature of the upper portions ofthe side plates, a tape gripping and feeding device slidably mountedupon the tape guide member and having a downwardly projecting operatingfinger extending through and travelling in the slot of the tape guidemember, and a swinging arm between the side plates having at its upperend a cross piece which is slotted to receive said downwardly dependingfinger whereby when the tape guide member and tape gripping and feedingdevice are set into place on the. upper edge portions of the side platessaid operating finger properly engages the swinging arm for operation,and whereby the tape guide member, together with the gripping andfeeding device may be removed directly away from the side pl ates.

2. In a machine of the class described the combination of a base member,a pair of parallel vertical: side plates projecting upwardly from thebase member and having their upper portions of suitable shape, a tapeguide member comprising a sheet of metal having its side edge portionsfolded over and into substantial parallelism with the body portionsimmediately beneath said folded portions but spaced therefrom toestablish a pair of thin tape edge guide grooves, the central portion ofthe guide member intermediate between said folded over portions beinglongitudinally slotted, the end port-ions of said. slot terminatingshort of the ends of the guide member to establish cross pieces havingprojecting cars which are adapted to overlie and be secured to the upperedges of the side plates, said guide member being suitably shaped toconform to the shape of the upper portions of the side plates, a tapegripping and feeding device slidably mounted upon the tape guide memberand having a downwardly projecting operating finger extending throughand traveling in the slot of the tape guide member, and a swinging armbetween the side plates having at its upper end a cross piece which issuitably slotted to receive said downwardly depending finger wherebywhen the tape guide member and tape gripping and feeding device are setinto place on the upper edge portions of the side plates said operatinglinger properly engages the swinging arm for operation, and whereby thetape guide member together with the grippingand feeding device may beremoved directly away from the side plates.

3. In a machine of the class described the combination of a base member,a pair of parallel vertical side plates projecting upwardly from thebase member, the upper portions of said side plates being suitablyshaped, a tape guide member adapted to occupy a position adjacent to theupper edge portions of the side plates and itnermediate between them andsuitably shaped to conform to the shapes of the upper portions of theside plates, said tape guide member being provided with a longitudinallyextending slot and with means for attachment of its end portions to theupper edges of the side plates, a tape gripping and feeding deviceslidably mounted upon the tape guide member and having a downwardlyprojecting operating linger extending through and traveling in the slotof the tape guide member, and a swinging arm between the side plateshaving at its upper end a cross piece which is slotted to receive saiddownwardly depending finger whereby when the tape guide member and tapegripping and feeding device are set into place on the upper edgeportions of the side plates said operating finger properly engages theswinging arm for operation, and whereby the tape guide member togetherwith the gripping and feeding device may be removed directly away fromthe side plates.

In a machine of the class described the coi'nl'iination of a basemember, a pair of suit ably separated supports extending upwardlytherefrom and having their upper edges suitably formed, a tape guidemember adj acent to and intermediate between said supports and shaped toconform thereto, means in conjunction with said tape guide memher forattachment to said supports, the tape guide member being longitudinallyslotted, a tape gripping and feeding device slidably mounted upon thetape guide member and having a downwardly projecting operating lingerextending through and traveling in the slot of the tape guide member,and a longitudinally movable operating device intermediate between thesupports andbeneath the tape guide member and having a slotted openingadapted to receive the downwardly projecting finger aforesaid, wherebywhen the tape guide member and tape gripping and feeding device are setinto place 011 the supports aforesaid said operating linger properlyengages the longitudinally movable member, and whereby the tape guidemember together with the gripping and feeding device may be removeddirectly away from the supports. v

5. In a machine of the class described the con'ibination with alongitudinally extending tape guide member having a centrallongit-udinal slot together with longitudinally, extending tape guidegrooves, at the side thereof, of a tape gripping and feeding deviceslidably mounted upon said tape guide memher and including a sheet metalcross piece located above and extending across the tape guide member andhaving its end portions folded re-entrantly beneath the sides of thetape guide member to retain the gripping and feeding device thereon,said re-entrant portions extending downwardly in the form of separatedears, a bell crank aw member intermediate between said ears and havingits angle pivotally supported on a cross pin extending through saidears, said bell crank jaw member comprising a pair of separated platesof similar shape, a rubber plug located and. supported between the armsof the bell crank arm plates and projecting above them to directlyengage the surface of the paper tape, there being a downwardlyprojecting semi-perforation in the gripping and feeding device adaptedto co-operate with said rubber plug for gripping purposes, and means forengaging the downwardly projecting arm of the bell crank member to shiftthe same longitudinally.

6. In a machine of the class described the combination with alongitudinally extendtending tape guide grooves at the sides there of,of a tape gripping and feeding device slidably mounted upon said tapeguide member and including a sheet metal cross piece located above andextending across the tape guide member and having its end portionsfolded re-entra-ntly beneath the sides of the tape guide member toretain the gripping and feeding device thereon, said re-entrant portionsextending downwardly to establish a pivot support,a bell crank jawmember having its angle pivoted to said support, a rubber plug securedto the arm of said bell crank v jawmember-and projecting-above the sameto engage-the surface of the paper tape, a down- Wardly projectingelement on the gripping 'andfeeding device extending into the slot ofthe tape guide member and adapted to cooperate with the rubber plug forgripping purposes-and means for engaging the downwardly projecting armof the bell crank jaw member to shift the same longitudinally.

7. In a machine of the class described the combination of a base member,a pair of parallel vertical side plates projecting upwardly therefrom,the upper portions of said side plates curving downwardly from the upperrear corners towards the front lower corners of the side plateson .asubstantially circular arc, atape guide member mounted adjacentfto saidupper edges. and conforming generally "to the curvature thereof, saidtape guiding member beingsuitably slotted for accommodation of the tapebeing delivered therethrough, means for advancing the tapelongitudinally of the tape guide member, a suitable pocket for a roll oftape resting upon the base member-between the side plates, said ta epassing upwardly and over the rear edge e the tape guide member, andsaid rear edge of the tape guide-member being provided with a downwardlydepending guide finger which is dished with its concave surface facingtowards the tape, said dished portion extend- "ing up to the point wherethe tape passes over the rear edge of the guide member and commenceslongitudinal travel thereof.

8. In a machine of the class described, the

combination of a base member, a pair of parallel vertical side plates)rojecting upwardly therefrom, a suitable tape guide member adjacent tosaid upper edges and having a longitudinally extending tape guide groovein which the tape travels, a suitable pocket for a roll of tape abovethe base member and between the side plates, the tape passing npwardlytherefrom and over the rear edge of the tape guide member and into thegroove of the tape guide member to commence longitudinal traveltherethrough, the rear edge portion of the tape guide member at saidpoint being curved with its concavity facing the tape surface.

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a basemember, a pair of parallel vertical side plates projecting upwardlytherefrom, suitable tape guiding and advancing means in conjunction withthe upper portions of the side plates, and a suitable pocket for a rollof tape above the base member and between the side plates, said pocketbeing dished with its concave surface facing up ardly and with its frontedge of higher elevation than its rear edge to thereby natnral ly resistthe tendency of its roll of tape to ride over said front edge.

10. In a machine of the class described the combination with a suitablecasing including a pair of separated vertical side plates, of a tapeguiding and feeding unit in conjunction therewith and comprising a sheetof metal having its side edges folded over and into sul stantialparallelism with the body portions immediately beneath said foldedportions but spaced therefrom to establish a pair of thin tape edgeguide grooves, the central portion of the guide member intermediatebetween said folded over portions being longitudinally slotted, the endportions of the said slot terminating short of the ends of the guidemember to establish cross pieces having projecting ears which areadapted to overlie and be secured to the upper edges of the side plates,and a tape gri 'iping and feeding device slidably mounted upon the tapeguide member and having a downwardly projecting operating fingerextending through and traveling in the slot of the tape guide mend :cr.

RALPH R. SHAY.

